Trailer Trucking Festival 2007, Cars in Sweden, Konditori 100

Trailer Trucking Festival 2007 - visited by Konditori 100

I visited this festival on Saturday 25 August. As usual my focus was set on "Cars made in Sweden", so the photos here show a number of the Scania and Volvo trucks that were exhibited or visited the event.

I've arranged the photos in four groups:
- New trucks, 'standard'
- Newer trucks in competition
- Elder trucks
- Truck racing and other activities

When I had passed the entrance I took a 'detour' via a side area, and there were some interesting trucks.

A visitor from Norway came with a Volvo model I haven't seen many of. It's a Volvo VN780, Stein told me after having visited this web page. This truck is the hobby of its owner, instead of a summer house or boat. After 30 years in the transport business he wanted to have a suitable car to use in his spare time. Luckily he managed to get an ok according to Norwegian legislation. Nice to see it, and I wish him many pleasant miles on the roads.

There are some Scania trucks with large cabs, too.

In the commercial area Scania had parked a R 500 and a R 480, both with topline cabs.

Among the other trucks was this 164L with a longer cab.

Volvo exhibited FH16 trucks, and a D16E engine.

The VT880 model is marketed in the U.S.A. but not in Europe, so it was nice to see it here.

Later during the day it was in use to keep the pace.

To get some photos of new trucks was one of my purposes with the visit, another was to enjoy the exhibited trucks competing in various classes. Especially those I have parked further down on this web page.

This VN770 from 1998 had made some 1.700.000 km on the roads, if I got it right. Here it has company with a NH12 from 2003.

A Volvo FH16, and a Scania R 580 with a paint design that made me remember trucks from the former transport company ASG.

Two couples of Scanias. Above a T 580 from 2005 behind a T164 from 2004. Below is a 2005 model of Scania R 580 and a T 620 from 2006.

A timber truck, with a crane at the rear. The crane has a cab, which is more comfortable when working during cold winters. When I edited the photos, I discovered the damage on the side of the other truck.

This Volvo FH12, 2006, has a fantasystic decoration.

The 2005 Scania R 500 "Metal Shaper" is honouring a skilled craftsman. Another kind of 'sharp' design, including a variation of the Scania Griffin, decorated a R 480. However, the Scania sign on the front had a softer idyllic view over boathouses. Nice.

Open doors and bonnets draw attention. This Scania T 580, made for the British market where the traffic is left-hand drive, was like a public magnet.
A snake is watching the engine.

Gary Coles finished as number three in the Nordic Trophy championship, and received among others also the first prize for best paintjob.

Movies are popular as inspiration, mostly newer movies as far as I have seen. To see this Polish Scania R 500 from 2007 with scenes from the old "Easy Rider" movie made me feel a bit nostalgic.

The red Scania R 500 from 2006 has won several prizes, among others for the paintjob. Juha Ristimaa has won the Nordic Trophy four times during the last five years, but this year he finished on position two.

I wonder how much paint you need for a more than 25 metres long truck and trailer?

Cartoons are another kind of movies that gives inspiration, like on these Danish Scanias - "The little Mermaid" on a R 500 (2007) and "The Flintstones" on a R 580 (2006).

The cool scenery on the Polish R 500 from 2007 is filled with characters from the "Ice age".

I liked this "Spiderman" Volvo FH16 from 2007, with its grilles following the same theme. A good idea.

Another truck with a theme-design that stretched beyond the paintwork was the Finnish 2007 Scania R 620 "Shogun".

Under the watchful eyes, the sword is ready. I wonder how they react at the border controls? Maybe it helps if Mika Auvinen shows the cup he received as the 2007 winner of the Nordic Trophy, and the other five prizes he won? Congratulations! After having tried eleven times it worked this time, maybe with the help of the samuray that gave advices for the construction.

The first Trailer Trucking Festival was held here at Mantorp 25 years ago. This year some 50 companies were represented, and 150 trucks from 10 countries competed for the prizes. The 2-day event was visited by around 10.000 visitors.

There's another truck with a fascinating painting, a Volvo. Even though I was at Mantorp Park for several hours, I know that I still missed many of the trucks.

I guess this Polish 2005 Volvo FH16 610 became my favourite of the trucks I saw at the Trailer Trucking Festival 2007. "Find Nemo".

They even had included an aquarium in the trailer. I wonder what the fishes thinks about the driving? My daughter once told me that the memory of Goldfishes lasts just a second or two, so maybe they don't notice it. (I wonder how they measured that, by the way?)

There are many painted details, seemingly 'on every available metal area'.

I also was amused to see the treasure chest in the small locker.

Then there is another kind of modified trucks. Over a number of years, Svempa has given us several special trucks to enjoy. A few things were missing on the truck exhibited at this festival.

No, the roof isn't missing. This is a roadster. A hot rod cab.

The 4,5 metric tons heavy roadster was estimated to reach 100 km/h in 5 seconds, and to reach 200 km/h on the long straight on Mantorp Park.

Under the bonnet there's a 16-litre V8 engine that now has almost 1.000 hp, as indicated by the small label.

I also hoped to see some elder trucks, and the first one I saw was parked outside the entrance.

A Scania-Vabis LBS76 from 1963, visiting from the Netherlands. The previous weekend it had participated as number 3 in the veteran truck rally "Pärlrallyt", which is arranged annually on Swedens west coast.

Then I saw some buses, among others a Scania S-82. Earlier it was used in Överkalix in northern Sweden. Now it was owned by a couple from Finland who seemed pleased with it as their camper.

Two rebuilt Volvo buses were also there, a B 58-60 from 1972 and BB57-50 from 1981.

The elder exhibited trucks were parked in an area that was closed when I came there, since some trucks were going to do some racing. You can see most of those trucks further down on this web page.

The festival had several visitors who had brought their elder trucks from Germany and Norway. That was nice for me, who like to look at elder trucks too.

A 1949 Scania-Vabis LS23.

Some difference compared to new trucks.

Two Scania-Vabis trucks, with the signs of the Swedish transport company Bilspedition.

The 1959 LS7138 had two trailers, with the cargo covered in a way that was usual in those days.

On the side of the Skänninge trailer is an argument for buying it (when it was new), with its construction that gives 'less weight and more cargo'.

The trailer was coupled with a matching LS7550 from 1962.

The next Norwegian Scania-Vabis truck I saw had a long history, in mileage. When the LS76 Super was bought in 1963, the new truck got a special cab from the Swedish company Be-Ge. The cab was one of seven that were built 20 centimeters wider than normal. Johan Evensen & Sønner AS bought three of those cabs.

Until 1976 the truck was used for intercontinental freights. It was then sold, after some 1.700.000 km on the roads. After that it was used for local transports for another 300.000 km, until it was retired. Luckily it wasn't scrapped, since the wish to restore it grew. About ten years ago it was found, and the first owner bought it again. After some 6.000 hours of restauration work it won the title Best Veteran Truck at Trailer Trucking Festival 2007. Congratulations.

Once again I compare the interior with modern trucks, and also think about the roads of those days...

Scania-Vabis LS76 Super from 1967

With Swedish flags on the roof, this German 1970 Scania 140 Super visited the festival.

Another well-kept truck was this Scania 110 Super from 1971.

Another truck flying the colours of Bilspedition, a 1973 Scania LBS140.

Another Scania 140 was flying the Swedish colours, a German 1976 LB140.

I have to admit that the large box with the lid made me a bit curious. What did they transport in such a container?

Two Scanias from 1977. The one to the right is a LB141, and I think the other 141 also is a LB. The two duck-trucks on the roof may be LBS models, with a supporting third axle.

Among the rather few elder Volvos was this German 1977 F89, with CH230 on the side of the cab. In his letter, Stein also tells that this is an unusual truck. He hasn't seen any info about in books or other texts about Volvo trucks. From 1978 Volvo produced the F12 CH230, with a cab from the F7 model, that had a width of 230 centimeters. It was for the Swiss market, where that was the maximum width for vehicles.

The 1978 Volvo F1220 was also a German visitor.

Also a wheel loader can have hot paint, like this Volvo L70F. (F - it can't be old, with that letter.)

Now it's time for photos of some of the trucks that did some racing.

The hot rod truck rumbled by.

I wonder how he will finish it. At the rear, I mean. A trunk that has a gigantic foldable extra seat?
Like on this hot rod?

I've seen several cars, and motorcycles, ready for a dragrace run here on Mantorp, but I've never seen such a large car at the stage-in.

Boije Ovebrink and his Volvo NH16 "The Wild Viking".

Here and there he painted the asphalt with some rubber, using the 1.500 hp D16E engine. It makes 0-100 km/h in 6 seconds, I read.

Then it was time for truckracing, with a mixed field of elder and newer trucks. Just for the show.

As usual the pace car took the lead right from the start.

When the race had begun, the line of trucks was stretched out. Here Boije Ovebrink in old "Bettan" is chased by Mika Mäkinen from Finland. The Volvo NL12 "Bettan" and Boije won the European championship in 1994. Mika, in a Mercedes, is the leader of this years Finnish championship.

Johannes Landqvist drove another Volvo NL12. He too was chased by Mika.

Here a MAN truck is ahead of a Volvo as they passed all the Volvo-flags.

Karl-Olof Nilsson drove a Scania T113H.

Ole-Jonny Jorde, Norway, debuted in truckracing with one of the Scania 143:s that was built for Rolf Björk for the 1989 season. It's a 143M.

The blue Scania T143H was driven by Hans-Åke Andersson.

I like the design of that cab.

Johannes Landqvist on three wheels with the Volvo NL12.

The Scania 143M, with number 24, was built for Rolf Björk in 1989. At Scanias 100 year anniversary it was used for a jump, landing after some 20 metres. Later it among others was used for 2-wheel driving. In March 2007 it became Norwegian, and within a year it visited a Swedish racetrack again.

Among the activities was also a driving skill competition, a Swedish Mastership, using equipment from another competition.

Scania Young European Truck Driver is a contest with participants from 27 European countries. The final was held on 22 September. (I don't know who won.)

To get the full score here, all the wheels on one side had to roll over the plank. At another station the trailer should be backed into a narrow pocket, and stopped close to the rear markers.

At two stations the task was to knock down the middle marker of three. To knock it down with the front end of the truck, drivers used various technicues.

Yes, that was a pleasant day for me. Thank you to all who arranged it and made it work so well, and to all of you who brought your trucks there. Drive safe in the future.